Using an Electric Hook Up (EHU) when Camping

Sometimes using electricity in your tent is essential, especially if you want to heat your tent in the cooler months. There are also times when a kettle, microwave, lights, and a small fridge may be useful on a long camp, as well as a bottle steriliser for babies. (Not to mention a phone charger!)

What electrical appliances can you use at the campsite?

The majority of campsites in the UK will provide a three-pin connector rated at 16 Amps, which can provide a 230V supply, just like at home.

The campsite EHU with Mini Circuit Breaker

The campsite’s electric supply will be fitted with a miniature circuit breaker (MCB). The key here is understanding how much you can plug in before the circuit breaker trips.

Some campsites will double up on the electric points, which means that if you overload the electrics, you not only trip out your tent but also your neighbour’s, which could make you very unpopular.

Make sure the campsite shows you how to reset the electrics if they trip. This may be something only the campsite owner can do, which may not be possible between 9 pm and 9 am, or there could even be a charge for resetting the electrics.

Many campsites only provide a 10A supply, and you may even find sites with only 5A (especially in Europe), so don’t assume everything you could run at one site can be used at another.

Working out exactly how much you can plug in and turn on requires an understanding of Ohms law and also taking into account any voltage drop (which can cause a current increase) with long lengths of cable!

The formula is Power (in Watts) = Voltage x current (Amps).

But don’t worry. You don’t need to be a mathematical physics genius to work things out. You can use the table below to see how much power you have available depending on the current available at the campsite.

Site Amps

Calculation

How Much Power

16A

230V x 16A

3.68kW

10A

230V x 10A

2.3kW

5A

230V x 5A

1.15kW

Different appliances draw different amounts of current. A domestic kettle is very power-hungry, but you can get a low watt camping kettle. Also, becareful of running devices at the same time. You may avoid overloading the supply by turning off a heater or when using the kettle, for example.

Here’s some example of appliance power, but of course, check your own devices:

Typical Device Power Consumption

Appliance

Typical Power (W)

Current (A)

Household Kettle

2000

8.7

Camping Kettle

750

3.3

800W Microwave

1000

4.4

2kw Fan Heater

2000

8.7

1kw Fan Heater

1000

4.4

Low Watt camping fan heater

750

3.3

Toaster

900

3.9

600W Hair Dryer

600

2.6

1.2kw Hair Dryer

1200

5.2

Examples of what appliances you can use when camping

If you are on a campsite with a 10 Amp supply, you will have around 2.3kW available.

That means you could run a low watt camping or travel kettle (around 750 Watts), plus a low watt toaster (900 Watts). But if someone then plugs in a low 600W Hair Dryer, you are dangerously close to tripping the electrics.

Of course, not all appliances are the same. Your camping kettle may use 1000W, and your low-watt travel toaster may also use 1000W. That won’t give you enough power to run much else at the same time.

If the campsite only has a 5 Amp supply, then you will only have around 1.15kW.

That 1000W kettle will be the only thing you can have running.

Of course, if you are on a campsite with a full 16Amps, then you’ll have a full 3.68kW to use.

Just add up all the Watts of the appliances you want to use at the same time, and make sure it stays below the amount of Watts on the campsite’s Electric Hook-Up.

Low-Wattage Appliances for Camping

Below are some examples of low-wattage appliances you can use for camping.

The lower the watts you use, the more devices you can run at the same time.

Reviewed

Kampa

Fizz Stainless Steel Electric Kettle

We have this kettle and it works a treat. Slighter slower to boil than at home.

Hi I have a caravan on a seasonal pitch on a small site of about 50 others! The ehu is 16 amps per pitch and it hasn’t been full at all, but this week there were many power cuts in the inner pitches of which mine is one! There are 4 plugs on each post! The owner will not take responsibility or action and this is causing a huge problem! Two nights ago she said it was because we all had our heating on! Baring in mind it has been jolly cold, and said the wet Alde heating was to blame! Mine is blown air! Last night she said someone used a domestic kettle, which we all have low energy ones! None of our individual ehu points blew, so we are all at a complete loss as to what can be done!
She said she has paid £1000 for an electrician to check it and everything is ok!
Well it obviously isn’t, but without any knowledge of electricity I just don’t know what to say or do?
Please advise?
Thank you

Yes, I can imagine how frustrating it is. If everyone is within the amps and the electrician has confirmed the EHU can take that many amps concurrently, then my immediate thoughts is perhaps something is shorting the trip on the EHU. If it’s a new trip mechanism then they are very sensitive for safety reasons.

Hi there, first time going in a tent coming up just wondered if a small freezer (just bigger than a cool box) would be okay to be plugged in all the time as I wouldn’t want anything over heating or blowing a fuse, not sure on the power off hand but any rough guidance would be appreciated.
Many thanks,
Lauren

Firstly thankyou for answering my last question
Can you tell me if I can use a tv while camping what size of tv or make would be best
I am going to invest in the Mensa hook.so it would be connected to this Up you have surgested

Hi Angela, Yes, you can. You’ll need to get a camping/caravan TV. These are designed to not use much electricity. Here’s an example of one on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2OBaR18 As always, you’ll need to count up the Amps you are using so that you don’t trip the electric hook-up.

When you say “also taking into account any voltage drop (which can cause a current increase) with long lengths of cable!” surely, a voltage drop ultimately causes a current decrease not increase as you have suggested?

[…] The Outwell Fuji heater comes in two settings, either at 600W or 1500W. You won’t be able to use it on the full 1500W if the campsite only has a 5A supply, but you’ll be fine on full heat at campsites with a 10A or 16A supply (with obvious care not to run too many power hungry appliances that cause the power to trip – see our guide to Electric Hookups). […]

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